Synergistic effect of Pseudomonas azotoformans and Trichoderma gamsii in management of Fusarium crown rot of wheat

Abstract

Fusarium crown rot is the major soil-borne disease of wheat and occurs throughout cereal producing areas of the world including Algeria. This study evaluated 10 bacterial and fungal strains, originating from Algeria as potential biological control agents against three soil-borne phytopathogens responsible for Fusarium crown rot of wheat (Fusarium pseudograminearum ON687723, F. graminearum ON685926 and F. equisti MK361175). All benificial microbial strains tested inhibited the pathogens mycelial growth in vitro. Isolate P58 (Pseudomonas azotoformans NR_113600) was the most effective antagonist against all the test pathogens in direct confrontation assay, and exhibited average of 70% growth inhibition of Fusarium spp. Isolate T2 (Trichoderma gamsii MK361138) proved suppression efficacy in the range of 61.87 to 71.64% toward plant pathogens. Under greenhouse conditions, wheat seeds treated with isolate P58 and T2 separately reduced the severity of crown rot disease significantly and improved the growth parameters of wheat seedlings as compared to control. The combined use of Pseudomonas azotoformans and Trichoderma gamsii increased the effectiveness of the antagonists and promoted wheat growth. Thus, it can be concluded that these strains can be utilized as a biocontrol agent for management of soilborne cereal pathogens.